When comparing Action Launcher Plus vs SF Launcher 2, the Slant community recommends Action Launcher Plus for most people. In the question“What are the best launchers for Android?”Action Launcher Plus is ranked 5th while SF Launcher 2 is ranked 38th. The most important reason people chose Action Launcher Plus is:

A more powerful alternative to folders, Covers allows the user to disguise what would normally be a folder as an app one of the apps in the folder. One tap opens the app normally, but swiping up on the icon reveals the folder that the icon is covering. The use of covers is also optional for those that would rather use a regular folder.

Specs

File Size14.67MB

In App Purchases$4.99 - $12.00 per item

PublisherChris Lacy

Required Android Version5.0 and up

File Size8.6M

In App PurchasesNone

PublisherJack Thakar

Required Android Version4.1 and up

Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking

Pros

Pro

Covers

A more powerful alternative to folders, Covers allows the user to disguise what would normally be a folder as an app one of the apps in the folder. One tap opens the app normally, but swiping up on the icon reveals the folder that the icon is covering. The use of covers is also optional for those that would rather use a regular folder.

Pro

Sliding quickdrawer allows for quick access to apps

The quick drawer allows for quick access to apps, from anywhere on the device. This way users do not have to go to the home screen in order to open the app drawer.

Pro

Shutters

Shutters is a feature that allows the user to swipe up on an icon to load the app's widget in a small window, and then hide when done. Saves tons of screenspace without losing the functionality of your favorite widgets.

Pro

Quicktheme

The action bar and search bar change colors according to the wallpaper, making for a great way to have a consistent color theme.

Pro

Supports icon packs

Pro

Google Now support

Pro

Active, Innovative Developer

The dev constantly releases betas and trials new features. Bugs are found and sorted out quickly. App innovations are often ahead of the curve -- e.g., quickdrawer, instant theming, pixel integration before Nova, gesture integration. When upgraded from AL2 to AL3, the dev also explained the rationale behind the move to a whole new app and payment, and discounted supporters.

Pro

Lightweight

Pro

Gestures for shortcuts

Use swipes, pinches, and multi-finger gestures on the homescreen as shortcuts to your favorite features. A favorite is a down swipe anywhere on the homescreen, to bring down the notification tray so users don't have to reach up to the top of their screen. Additionally customise double- and triple-taps on the homescreen to launch a variety of options.

Pro

Pixel Launcher look & feel

Use the Pixel theme to add a dock background, and add a Google pill button instead of the search bar. this way users can mimic the look of the Pixels launcher.

Pro

3D Touch-like app shortcuts

Pro

Does not slow down under load

Pro

'Vertical grid' app tray option

Action Launcher has the option to enable a vertical grid app tray that acts like most menus that slide out from the left of the phone's screen. Apps are organized alphabetically, and touching a letter will take you to apps that start with that letter.

Pro

1 Google Now page

With a companion app Action Launcher, you gain access to the Google Now page.

Pro

Feels great with curved displays

Action Launcher 3 feels like it was made for curved displays, like the Galaxy S6/7 Edge, BlackBerry Priv, and Nexus 4. Swiping in from the edge for the vertical app drawer or quickpage feels even more natural on these phones.

Pro

Easy to use, card-based interface

The home screen is organized into cards that can be scrolled vertically. Cards can contain widgets or collections of apps. Swiping from the left gives access to all apps and swiping from the right gives access to all widgets. These can then be added to the homescreen. It's possible to customize the order, color, transparency, size and what how much information or apps a card displays.

Pro

Clean, material design inspired aesthetic

The look of the launcher is inspired by Android 5.0 Lollipop and material design. It follows material design color scheme, has a card-based layout and a Google Now-like, header with a stylized image of a city at the top of the homescreen that changes throughout the day.

Cons

Con

Misleading description of the free version

Most of the features are in the upgrade version.

Con

Confusing upgrade procedure

Action Launcher can be upgraded to the Pro version using an in-app purchase. The confusion comes from the fact that there's a Pro version available on the Play store, but the correct version to upgrade is through the in-app purchase.

Con

Cannot change icons without upgrading

Cannot change the icons individually without upgrading. Some icon packs do not change all the icons when initially applied.

Con

No trial for the pro version

There's no way to try the pro version before buying it.

Con

Interface is not optimized for widgets that can be scrolled

Since the interface is based on vertical scrolling cards, widgets that can be scrolled (like a calendar widget) can get in the way of easily scrolling through the list of cards. It is possible to turn off widget scrolling in the settings to avoid these issues, but limits functionality of widgets.